Phuket may get a trade office

PHUKET: Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) officials have proposed building an office in Phuket as part of a government strategy to improve services for businesses ahead of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

The officials were in Phuket recently to discuss the issue with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, who expressed interest in the proposal.

Phuket is one of seven provinces being considered for new foreign trade offices.

“We would like to study the suitability of setting up offices in provinces with high trade volumes. We think that expanding our services will be beneficial for the upcoming AEC,” said Khemathat Archawathamorong, a DFT trade officer.

Department of Foreign Trade Regional Coordination Center Director Sanan Charnsitpisarn said that the main service provided by such an office would be to issue documentation, such as certificates of origin, required for importing and exporting goods.

“We have six regional offices across the country – in Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Chon Buri, Sa Kaeo, Nong Khai and Chiang Rai.

We feel we need to set up more offices in areas that have opportunities to increase trade among neighboring and distant countries,” Mr Sanan said.

Highlighting Phuket’s relevance, Mr Sanan said that the combined gross value of imports and exports for Phuket was about 1.7 billion baht per month. That figure is expected to gradually increase, he said.

Having an office in Phuket would help reduce the workload at the Songkhla office, he added. However, the Department of Foreign Trade does not yet have a budget to construct such an office, Mr Sanan said.

“We still do not know where we would set up an office in Phuket, but we would like to make it happen before 2015.

We’ll compile the results of our studies in each province and present them to the director general for consideration,” he said. Gov Tri was supportive of the idea.

“It would be a very good thing to have a foreign trade office here, and we are delighted to help,” he expressed. “It would be convenient for business operators in Phuket and nearby provinces,” he added

The bulk of Phuket’s exports is rubber and seafood products, while imports include boats and related materials, and electronic appliances, Gov Tri said.

“However, the obstacle is at the Deep Sea Port where rubber products are shipped. There is no warehouse for stocking goods, let alone the cranes needed to lift them.

He is also concerned about the threats the ASEAN Economic Community poses on small to medium-sized enterprises in Phuket. “We cannot compete with foreigners in terms of capital and know-how,” Gov Tri warned.

Two charged with attacking an ambulance and driver in Phuket

Two men were have been charged with attacking a moving ambulance and the volunteer ambulance driver along the ByPass Road in Phuket earlier this week.

The two assailants were easily identified as 22 year old Sagib Yomyai and 29 year old Sutthi Sripoon, both from Trang province, were arrested at a rented house in Tambon Wichit, Muang district, with an array of incriminating evidence that included a pistol, two bullets, a knife and an axe.

The pair were then taken for questioning in front of Phuket police chief Pol Maj General Wisan Panmanee.

The men were charged by police with damaging, or rendering useless, property belonged to another person, threatening another person and illegal possession of a gun.

The charges follow an attack on the ambulance with a knife and an axe as it was driving on Chalerm Phrakiat King Rama 9 road (ByPass Road) in Muang district on May 20.

The ambulance driver, 41 year old Detnarong Songsang, a lawyer by profession, told Wichit Police that the two men were on a Honda Wave motorcycle that chased after him after he beeped his horn at them for dangerously changing lanes near Siriroj Hospital at around 5pm on Monday.

One of the men threw an object at the back of the ambulance and then tried several times to use a knife to pierce the ambulance’s hood cover. They kept up the chase and then attacked the rear again, this time with an axe.

Detnarong accelerated to escape and luckily for him, the men spotted police on the road ahead, so they gave up the pursuit. He went straight to the police station to report the incident.

Damage estimated at 50,000 baht was caused to the back windshield of the ambulance, its two side windows and the hood cover. As police were still hunting the suspects, Detnarong posted a four-minute video clip and photo on to his Facebook account to help spread the news.

One reporter asked the driver why he didn’t just drive them off the road, Detnarong said he was trained to save people and it was inappropriate to use an ambulance to cause harm.

No injury as trailer truck loses control in Phuket Darasamut Underpass – VIDEO

A trailer has skidded and lost control, and then collided with concrete barriers at the southern entrance to the Darasamut Underpass this morning. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Wichit Police were notified of the incident at 10am. Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the damaged trailer truck and smashed barriers. Both lanes inside the underpass were blocked until the truck and debris could be removed.

Police checked CCTV footage showing that the truck was heading down into the underpass. The truck lost control after starting to skid sideways and smashed through the median barriers.

What to do in Phuket – A Unique Guide

A modern Holiday Membership Club with its flagship office at the luxurious Patong Bay Hill Resort on Hasibpee Hill, Club Unique offers members an endless choice of possibilities as well as an almost limitless array of luxuries across a global platform. While a stay with Club Unique is exceptional in itself, the staff are eager to offer members & guests insight into local experiences in order to take full advantage of all that Phuket truly offers.

Here, we offer up a Unique Guide on What To Do in Phuket. Whether it be a local temple or a famous landmark, we urge you to get out and explore some of our favorite spots when staying with us at Club Unique in Phuket.

A Visit to Phuket Old Town

Phuket Old Town is an interesting journey back in time to Phuket’s heritage of tin mining, away from the fast-paced lifestyles of today. It is worth taking a wander around the Old Town to admire the stunning Sino-Portuguese shophouses and architecture. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Phuket Thai Hua Museum

Originally the first Chinese language school on the island, Phuket Thai Hua Museum is located on Krabi Road. It is one of the most-preserved of all of the original colonial-style buildings in all of Phuket Old Town. The museum consists of 13 rooms that feature exhibitions in both English and Thai languages. All of the displays are a walk through history and connect the dots between the Phuket and China relationship that started in the tin mining days.

Big Buddha

Without a doubt Phuket’s shining star, the Big Buddha is Phuket’s ongoing man-made attraction. Also known as Ming Mongkol Buddha, the statue is perched atop a 380 metre hilltop in the Nakkerd Hills between the Chalong and Kata neighborhoods.

This structure was dedicated to the late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej in honor of his 80th birthday. There is also a smaller Brass Buddha that is 12 metres high and constructed of 22 tonnes of brass, which is dedicated to HM Queen Sirikit.

Big Buddha offers stunning 360 views over Phuket and is a must-see while visiting the island.

Karon Viewpoint

The winding coast road between Kata and Nai Harn has some lovely scenery. Just two kilometers along it from Kata is Karon Viewpoint. There is a small car park, a couple of shops and a pavilion from which to enjoy the view.

If you climb the steps to the top of the pavilion, you have a wonderful view north across three of Phuket’s best beaches.

The nearest beach you can see is Kata Noi,in the next bay is the sweeping Kata Beach. In the distance, you see the long stretch of Karon Beach, if you keep driving south on this road, you will pass Nai Harn Beach and then reach Promthep Cape.

Wat Chalong

Built at the beginning of the nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II, Wat Chalong is the most important of the 29 Buddhist temples in Phuket. The temple contains several structures and halls. One of the halls features a gilt-covered statue of the famous and revered Luang Poh Cham statues of Luang Poh Chuang and Luang Poh Gleum, all ex-abbots of the temple. The Grand Pagoda is decorated with wall paintings depicting the Buddha’s life story and features various Buddha images.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first elephant sanctuary on the island pioneering ethical elephant tourism. The sanctuary rescues sick, injured and old elephants who have spent their entire lives working long, exhausting hours in the logging or tourism industries. A visit offers a unique experience observing retired working elephants rehabilitate into forest life. To be in the presence of an elephant is simply breathtaking and a day at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary will leave you captivated by how incredible the largest land mammal on earth truly is.

To learn more about unique things to do while holidaying in Phuket, visit Club Unique at our flagship office in Hasipbee Hill in Patong, just minutes away from fantastic Patong Beach.

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